KOCHI: The Kerala High Court dismissed a petition challenging the election of Indian Union Muslim League leader (IUML) leader P K Kunhalikutty from the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency.

Kunhalikutty had won the seat by defeating his immediate rival and Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate M.B. Faisal by a whopping margin of 1,71,038 votes in April this year.

The election petition was filed by Independent candidate A K Shaji.

According to him, the column in the affidavit provided for furnishing the details of investment of the spouse of the candidate was left blank.

Besides, he had not furnished the gross total value of movable assets of his dependants.

The petitioner alleged that Kunhalikutty had suppressed these facts while filing nomination.

He sought to declare the election void.

Dismissing the petition, the court observed that election petition was not maintainable as the petitioner was unable to produce an authentic copy of the affidavit filed by Kunhalikutty before the returning officer.